Safety apparatus for steam-boilers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI E. LINCOLN, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

Specication of Letters `Patent No. 25,655, dated October 4, 1859.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI E. LINCOLN, of Lowell, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Method of Attaching Water Alarms to Steam-Boilers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, and of the operations produced thereby, reference being had to the accompanying drawings by letters of speciiication marked thereon.

The nature of my invention, consists in averting, by siphon formation, the liability to that peculiar support which obtains to the contents of a simple inverted tube by strict horizontality of orifice, or by slight obstruction thereat, (which occuring, etfectually prevents that pipes discharge) and also in, by the mediation of the same means, making a single signalizer, respectively serviceable, for any number of boilers.

Figure I, represents the proposed method of making attachment to one boiler; Fig. II, the method of making attachment to a series of boilers.

A B C D, of Figs. I and II, are to represent steam boilers in any of the practical forms; B C and D, having the reciprocal steam and water connections as is common in nested boilers.

a b, Fig. I, are upright pipes, entering into the boiler on the same horizontal low water line.

c, is a pipe, joining a and Z9 and forming therewith an equi-legged siphon; c, having a horizontal attachment, lc, by or through which the alarm is connected to the siphon, and therewith to the boiler.

e f g, Fig. II, are upright pipes entering into their respective boilers on the same horizontal low water line, and united by the pipe It L, into a triple limbed siphon e Ll It.' 7L L, having a horizontal attachment, 7c, by or through which, and the intervention of the siphon, the alarm is effectively connected to each boiler.

The operation in this method of attachment, is as follows: The boiler A being tted and subjected to steam pressure, water forces up, and is maintained in, the pipes a b c 7c, but when the water in the boiler A, falls below the low water line, (the points of attachment 2,) the water therefore held in the pipes a b c la, falls therefrom, and its place is supplied by steam. In the boilers B, C, D, when filled and subjected to steam pressure water rises in the pipe c f g, and fills them, together with the pipes 7L /z le, and when the water in any one of the boilers falls below the horizontal low water line r s, the water in all the boilers discharges itself, and steam takes its place.

In the attachment of the alarm to the single boiler, Fig. I, or in` a multiplex connection, as in Fig. II, the alarm is in communication with all the pipes of its respective connection; and hence is subjected to whatever steam or water change of contents occurs within them; moreover steam imparts temperature by simple presence, whereas water does this chiey by circulation, and there is no water circulation through the alarm. Temperature is the controlling condition of the alarm, and therefore when the siphon and the alarm are steam lled, the alarm is in action, and is not in action, or is silent, when it and t-he siphon are filled with water.

What I claim as my invention and wish to secure by Letters Patent is- The application of a low water alarm to more than one boiler, (or to one) by means of a two or more legged tube,-a simple orv a compound siphon,-in such manner that said tube shall keep said alarm charged with water, when all its pendent ends are covered by water, and shall cause said alarm to be supplied with steam when any one of its pendent ends is exposed to steam; substantially as in this specification set forth and described.

LEVI E. LINCOLN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN LovEJoY,

S. G. CREssY. 

